./ 



Olo<h- M^ /Q 




E 467 
1 

cepvT ^UELIC SERVICES 

" OP 

BRVT. BIAJ. GEN. JOHN F. HARTRANFT, UNION CANDI- 
DATE FOR AUDITOR GENERAL. 




Never Negligent, Never too Late, Never Defeated 



NORMSTOWN, PA : 
WIMiS, IREDELL & JENKINS, PRINTEKS. 



1865. 



oij_o:tjs[ 



Tlie Flag of Antietam Bridge and Fort Steadnaan — Th.e Bannec- 
of Victory w^hen Hartran.f\; Leads ! 



^ 




A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 

-OF — 

BYT. MAJ. GEN. JOHN F. HARTRANFT, U. S. T, 

UNION CAMIDATE FOR ACDITOR GESEEil OF f ENNSYlVAJili. 



The name of Harteanft has penetrated 
every recess of the whole country, and in our 
Comufonwealth has become a household word. 
Our people do not need this or any similar 
publication to bring it to their notice. But 
there is very generally felt a desire to know 
more of the man than has yet been told, and 
to be more fully informed concerning those 
heroic deeds which have won for himself, his 
native State, and our glorious cause, such 
bright and unfading laurels. 

His fellow citizens, niesiring to repay, to the 
jxtent of their ability, bis exertions in their 
jehalf, or at least to show that they appreci- 
ite them properly, have placed him in nonii- 
lalion for a high and responsible position in 
he popular gift, and it is now no less appro 
)riate than we believe it will be acceptable, 
give to the public this little pamphlet, con- 
aining a brief record of the public services 
f one of Pennsylvania's noblest sons. 



EARLY LIFE. 
Brevet Major General John Frederick Harfe^ 
ranft is a native of New Hanover townskip, 
Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and vratt 
born December 16, 1830. He graduated at 
Union College, at Schenectady, New York, int 
1853, and was employed as a Civil Enginectt 
for some time. He assisted in running th» 
line of the Mauch Chunk and "White HaveiE 
Railroad, which has since been constructed, 
and had charge ef the working party who sur- 
veyed the route of the proposed Railroad from 
Chestnut Hill to Doylestown or New HofKS. 
In 1854, Sheriff Boyer, of Montguawrjr 
county, secured his services as Deputy, -andl 
he continued in the Sheriff's office in thn.t«ar- 
pacity during the remainder of Mr. Boy^t'k 
term of office and the whole of that of Sheriff 
Rudy, who was elected in 1855, andcontittaod 
till 1858. In this position he became «a- 
quainted with the people of his native ciroky 



•Ad acquired a general reputation among alljHe offered himself to Gen. McDowell to serve 
who met him as a prompt, careful and efficientjin any capacity in the approaching struggle 
basiness man. i where he could be useful. The General re- 

Having pursued the study of the law the marked that it was scarcely "regular" to 
necessary length of time he was admitted do so, but that his appreciation of Col. Hart- 
to practice at the bar of Montgomery county ranft's noble conduct was so high that he 
in the fall of 1860. would assign him to duly on the SlafF of CoL 



IN THE MILITIA. 

He was elected Colonel of the First llegi- 
Bi«nt of Montgomery County Militia in 18o9, 
laving previously been Lieutenant Colonel 
and Captain. The position, though neither 
arduous nor dangerous in time of peace, was 
no mean honor, and showed the high appreci- 
ation which his fellow-citizens had for a young 
man of less than thirty years. 

THE TESTS OF '61. 



Franklin, who commanded the brigade to 
which the 4th Regimeat had been attached. 
Through ihe excitement and dangers of the day 
the volunteer Aide performed good service to 
the army and the cause, and when at last the 
disgraceful and disastrous retreat commenced 
he distinguished himself to stay the torrent. 
Sword in hand he sought to restore order to 
jthe panic-stricken and disorganized masses. 
Col. Franklin, in his report, spoke of his ser- 



vices with warm words of commendation, and 
The call to arms in April, 1861, when, afterlGen. McDowell expressed regret afterward 
Sumpter was fired upon, President Lincoln is-lthat he had not done justice to his valuable 
sned his first appeal to the heroism and devo-jexertions by especially mentioning him in his 
tion of the people, found Colonel Hartranft official report of the battle, 
a Democrat, attached to the political princi-i General Cameron, then Secretary of War, 
pies in which he had been reared. But it'also referred with high encomiums to his con- 
found him none the less a, patriot. From the duct on this occasion, and it formed a gal- 
day in which he took up arms in defence of ilant commencement for a grand career, 
kiscouulry, he laid aside all ideas and theo- ..j-qR THREE YEARS OR THE WAR." 
Ties of partizanship and became alone a 
heroic soldier, striving always to do his duty ^"^"''"^ Hartranft had no intention of re- 

wherever and whenever that might call him '"'"^ ^'""^ '^^ '°"''' ^^ ^^' ""^''^ °^ ^'' 
to action jthree months' campaign. A week before the 

He lost no time in tendering the services of ''''"^' "^ ^''^ ^^^"'^ ^' ^'''^ '^^P^'"'^ '°' ^°^ °^- 
hifl militia regiment to Governor Curtin hav-i^"'""'^ permission from, the War Department, 
- _ „- ., 1 TT • T, i- .1 X ' \^° recruit a three years' regiment. Ha lost 

mg visited Hamsburg for that purpose on • . . . 

r.,-„^„„ ii,^ iPii, * A -1 Ti •^ ^ no time in commencing its organization. Gov. 

uesday the 16th of April. It was as prompt-L, . ^ . ,, ,7. ° «", v-uv. 

Ur ^^^r..^*^A „^.i 1, ~ ii, r. .IT,- Curtin having added his authority to do so. 

ly accepted, and became the Fourth Regiment , . ,,, ^^t j » ^^ ov, 

rf Pennsj'lvania Volunteers. Rendezvousing'!'"'^ "'^ '^' ^''^"^ November it was mustered 
St Harrisburg on the 20th, it was speedily i:'" '"''"'.''k ^^"""^^^^S. with Hartranft as 

4.r.»,^.i o-,„;»v^.>-i o„i„ tf J . T> •'iColonel, and became the Fifty-First Regiment 

armed, equipped, and sent forward to Perry- „ , . ,, , •' ° 

- __ . - •' I Wpnnsvlvftnin. v nliiiWoni-n WWli !t.3nnr»n ^^A 



Tille, in Maryland, thence to Annapolis, and 
finally' to ""Washington". Of his service in 
thia caffipaigri it is not necessary to speak, 



Pennsylvania Volunteers. With its name and 
achievements our hero maintained a qlose 
connection for two years, since he was its 

«;„— „,. ^^,i -^uu »i ill Header and its father, to whose care and per- 

smce iro action with the enemy took place " 

--» J Ttr u- i • 11 1 .,, , severance were due its ef5ciencv and disci- 

arcund Washington, as is well known, till the ,. ,.^ . . ^|c"t-j' uuu uisoi 

!pUne,,qualilying it to perform good service in 
FIRST BATTLE OF RULL RUN. I the great cause, and to occupy a place among 

The term of service of his regiment had ex- the best and foremost sons of our State. 
pired, &£d it was on the homeward march Valuing bis high qualities as a comrade and 



when the Battlaof Bull Run took place. The 
forward movemsnt of our army to' meet the 



leader, hie men soon learned to repose the 
utmost confidence in their Colonel. His coal 



rebels in that first grand encounter attracted black hair and moustache gave him the title 
Hartranft'a attention and he determined not of "black John," while regardless of youth- 
fo be left behind when, for the first time, his ful years they dubbed him with that other 
country needed hia services in actual battle. I nlark of a soldier's confidence, "OW Johnny." 



IN BURNSIDE'S CAMPAIGN. 

His regiment was assigned to Burnsitles 
Army, which was then organizing at Ann^i po- 
lls for service on the coast of North Carolinsi. 
It became a part of Reno's brigade, and p.ir 



posted on the Jei't of the C'cntrcrillevoad, prc»- 
tecting Graham's battery, till the retreat com- 
menced. When the brigade left the field It 
was divided, one regiment only rufirching witli 
General Ferrero, while the other two were 
rdered by anotbcr road under command of 



ticipated in the whole of Burnside's campaign. L-i„i u- , r. n .1 • .1 j- 

'^ . . . . . \(^oi- Hartranft. On this, as on the former 



The expedition left Annapolis early in Jauu 



joccasion, when everything was confusion, and 



ary, 1862, and on the 10th of the following! ,, „ , -.111 1 n i t 

•' ° all aroutiu were excited and alarmed. Colonel 

month Col. Hartranft led his men up through ,„ , e, • , 1 ,. . 1 j ^^ 

"^ "= Hartraurt retnaiut-d cool, collected, and sell- 

as svamp which the rebels had supposed im-l „i- , t <i • .- i,- • 1 1 i - v* 
'^ '^'^ ireliant. In this action his regiment lost eigbl 



passable, to -storm the rebel works on Roanoke 
Island. The contest was short, sharp, and 
decisive. The rebels were nearly all captured, 



killed and wounded, and thirteen missing. 

Again at Chantilly Hartranft met the ene- 
my, and again added new laurels to his fame- 



and the effects of so signal a success, in the o', ,i,„„„ „,„„ 1 „ j- 1 » i\ 

" ' iJut these struggles did not overcome the 

initial contest of the campaign, were excel 

lent. 



enemy Tired, foot-sore, and exhausted as 
our men were, they took up the line of marcb 



The rebel fortifications at Newborn were , - , „ „ 

ix 1 , J -J .1 -ir.L ^ TIT . °^^^ more, on the iih of September, and 

attacked and carried on the 15th of March, 1. . , , , „ , ^ , 

, , . ^ , TT ^ ■L joined the march of the Grand Army, aeais 

and here again Col. Hartranft bore a con- 1 ,,,,-„,, , ,,, ,, 

, „,, , , under McClellan, up through Maryland, fo 

epicuous part. The contest was a severe one, a ^ , 



epicuous p 

and the loss on both sides serious. The cor- 
respondent of the A^. Y. Tribune, disposed 



SOUTH MOUNTAIN AND ANTIETAM. 
The engagemeut at South Mountain, thougi 



naturally to speak more favorably of the Newjfipp^rently but a prelude to the greater con- 
York troops, in his letter said: — " The move- j 'est at Antietam, was distinct in its character. 
ment of Col. Hartranft's regiment was exe-j^*^ ^^^s fought on Sunday, September 14th, and 
cuted in the most deliberate manner, and ''^ result transferred the grand battle from 



Nine of his ''^^ little mountain pass to the banks of the 
stream beyond. 

The struggle for the possession of the p&sa 
was protracted and severe. Early in the 
morning the skrimishing commenced, and all 
day the gallant men under Reno pushed the 
rebels steadily before them, till the crests of 
the hill were won and held, though at a heavy 
loss, for the gallant and chivalrous Reno had 
fallen mortally wounded. Col. Hartranft 
commanded his regiment as usual, leading ii 
Early in August the force at Newport News'to the attack up the side of the mountain, 
was transferred by transports to Acquia Creek, ^ with his accustomed bravery. That night out 



proved a complete success." 
command were wounded. 

The army of Burnside remained at Newberu 
until the conclusion of McClellan's disastrous 
campaign on the Peninsula, when a large 
portion of it was shipped to Newport News, 
to join the Army of the Potomac. 

And thus ended the " Burnside Expedition." 
Henceforth it existed only in History 

POPE'S CAMPAIGN. 



and thence by railroad ■ to Fredericksburg, 
where Reno's Division arrived on the 4th of 
that month. Here they joined the army under 
Pope, and (hence participated in all the bat- 
tles and skirmishes of his unfortunate cam- 
paign. The service, during the three weeks 
of his command, was arduous in the extreme. 
From Fredericksburg to the old battle ground 



men occupied the important position they had 
carried, sleeping on the summit of the hill, 
whence the ground sloped away to the vallej 
of the Antietam. 

Two days occupied in short movements, and 
the morning of Wednesday, September 17th, 
found our army confronting the rebel host. 
Soon the intrepid Hooker, on the right, ws» 



at Bull Run, (he movement was almost a con- engaged. On the left Burnside waited orders 
tinuous struggle, and when the second battleitill nearly noon and then was directed to 



on that renowned locality took place. Colonel 
Hartranft found himself postedon almost the 
same ground that he had fought upon in July 
of the preceding year. His regiment was 



storm the enemy's position on the opposite 
bank of the stream, crossing his men oyer 
the narrow stone bridge that spanned ihc 
creek in his front. The position occupied by 



She rebels was one of 'tvonderful natural 
strength. The road on the East bank ■n-ound 
aj) near the stream for some distance before 
Teaching the bridge, and troops marching on 
it at this point were exposed to a terrible 
Sank fire. On crossing the bridge it met an 
abrupt steep bank, and deflected, nearly at 
Tight angles, up and down the West bank 
The bridge was therefore entirely commanded 
4j the rebels. They had had ample time for 
preparation, and their artillery was posted to 
aweep the causeway from end to end, while 
She riflemen screened from view behind tree* 
and rocks, or in well-prepared rifle pits, wait 
«d the attack, to open a most destructive fire 
Thus posted were the enemy. 

But the orders came to " Take the Bridge.' 
At about 11 o'clock Burnside ordered an at 
took. First two regiments essayed to cross 
Shis bridge of death. They struggled forward 
a little distance, terribly cut up by the fire in 
flank, paused, staggered, and came back. It 
seemed impossible that mortal men could cross 
%j so terrible a path and live. Again the at- 
tempt was made by fresh troops, and again 
ihcy were repulsed by the terrible fire. 
Still the Bridge must be taken. 
Then General Ferrero rode up to Hartranft, 
Trho lay with his regiment behind a knoll a 
short distance from the stream, and said to 
lim " General Burnside directs you to take 
jonr regiment, and cross the bridge." Hart. 
Kinft never questioned the orders of his supe- 
iriors. It was his rule always to obey. Amid 
&c cheers of his own men, and the shouts of 



The war, with its multitude of heroic and 
grand examples, has none more noble than 
this. And we say no more of it than History 
warrants and justice dema!nds when we give 
to the man who headed that splendid charge 
the title of a heroic man arid great leader. 

When the bridge was crossed the rebels 
abandoned their position and fled down the 
other side of the hill. The men of Hart- 
ranft's command occupied it. There was a 
lull in the contest on the left, and the Colonel 
visited for a few moments liis" wounded com- 
rades in the temporary hospifals on the east 
bank of the creek, giving each a word o' en- 
couragement and sympathy as he took him by 
the hand. 

That night, as his men lay on the ground 
they had won, he went through the Regiment 
and took the names of all those who had fol- 
lowed him through the terrible path across 
:he bridge. Of five hundred who were in the 
ranks in the morning, scarcely two hundred 
were on the hill that niglit. Most of that 
fearful deficiency were killed and wounded. 

Thus, Hartranft at Antietam. 

AT FREDERICKSBURG.' 
During McClellan's inactivity while Lee 
was escaping to a safe distance, the army lay 
in. Pleasant Valley, in Maryland, and at 
length crossed into Virginia. Burnside was 
placed in command of the Army of the Poto- 
mac, and it commenced the movement through 
Virginia, toward Fredericksburg. The dis- 
tance was long and the march toilsome. 

At Fredericksburg, when Burnside made 



»11 those who witnessed the attempt, ho ledj^^'s bold and nobly conceived, but disastrous 
Sbxward his regiment, alone, and unsupport. *i'tfick in December, Col. Hartranft once more 
•*d. Avoiding the unsheltered road below the '^^ ^^^ regiment into battle. Crossing on the 
Iridge thc^' reached the wing walls of the Pontoon bridge in front of the town, his 
jtrncture, and lay a few moments skirmish- men, who formed a part of Sturgis' Division, 
JDg, holding (he ground thus gained. A regi- l-is at Antietam, were sent to storm the heights 
»ent was hurried up to support them, but the just back of Fredericksburg. Tho rebel 
situation was a terrible one. On all sidesP^'°r''8 were carefully constructed and very 
nen and officers were falling. Capt. Bolton, strong, scarcely less so than their position at 



af Hartranft's regiment, was shot through the 
aieeks. Two other officers were killed. 
Hartranft led his men to the charge, and they 
fashed gallantly into the storm of leaden hail. 



Vntietam. But the Division, in the face of a 
most terrible fire, reached within eighty yards 
of the crest o f the hill it aimed to take, but 
having been fearfully weakened iu numbers, 



lieut. Col. Bell fell mortally wounded, thejduring its advance, had to halt. But it. held 
Mile stream of heroes was fearfully thinned Itbe point gained for three hours. lifotwith- 
they struggled forward, but by words and standing ij. was confronted by vastly superior 



a-sample Hartranft urged them on and 
Tms BitiDoi; w.\s Carried. 



numbers of infantry, and enfiladed by batte- 
ries on each flank, even afier its ammunition 



R 



iirC''- '■ ■,' f.TrT,' '»1:?1 '.T-t ' 

f.^^,.- bad all been spent it did not give way, but 
_,,, •, .fimilly held its ground till properly relieved 
,^ .i^hprtly after sunset. 

, ,. ; . ^loiJ (he terrible storm that met them as 
KT. -.J-^iy ^''-''bed up the hill, and while they stub- 
bornly held their position under the galling 
fiiL' concentrated upon Ihcm, Col. Hartranft 
Was with his men, coolly and calmly giving 
.. ; his orders, and fe^srle-ssly exposing his life. 
That there was no child's play where he fought 
at Fredericksburg, will be testified by the 
. su;vivors of that terrible fight. Ilartranft's 
rci/Imcnt alone lost twelve killed, and seven- 
ty-ioar wounded. Among the former was 
Cflptain BtU of Company B, from Easton, Pa.! 

MOVING TO THE WEST. i 

Fredericksburg was Hartjranft's last battle} 
in the Army of the Potomac, till it was com- 
manded by the invincible, unyielding Grant. 
His regiment lay on the Rappahannock for 
some weeks, and then the 9th Corps was scut 
to Newport News, preparatory to a new cam- 
paign. Having remained here a short time 
10 recover from the efi'ects of its recent hard 
marching and fighting, it was ordered to the 
West, and thither of course went Col. Hart- 
ranft and his regiment also. 

CAMPAIGN IN KENTUCKY. 

They left Newport News on the 2Gth </ 
March, and were conveyed by transports . 
Baltimore. Thence the railroad arteries • 
our gigantic system carried them to Cinci. 
f.ti, where they crossed the Ohio and entered i 

i a brief campaign in Central Kentucky,; 

igaged in watching the movements of the 
labels, and punishing the guerrillas. The 
?ervice was not likely to produce much dis- 
tinction, but it was arduous and severe. In 
April General Ferrero was relieved of his 
command of the brigade, and the commander 
of the Division being absent, Col. Hartranft 
succeeded to the charge of that until June, 
when Ferrero returned. From a letter written 
to one of our daily journals at that time, we 
copy the following reference to Hartranft, 
with the pen and ink .sketch it gives of his 
personal appearance : — 

" The corps is commanded by Gen. Wilcox, 
and the 2d division by Col. Hartranft, of iho 
51st Pennsylvania Regiment. I can't tell 
where the generals have got to, but I suppone 
the history of the changes and shifting must 



be left until the end of war, From what I 



have been told, however. Col. Hartranft, with- 
out the title, has been the general, in field and 
camp, through all the campaigns from North 
Carolina through Virginia, here. His popu- 
larity is coextensive with the Division, at 
I least, as well as his reputation for ability. I 
had some curiosity to see him. He is a tall,' 
black-haired, thin-faced man, with a heavy 
black moustache, forehead rather low, com- 
plexion bilious — one of those quiet, undemon- 
strative men who think twice before they 
speak, and oftener don't say anything at alL 
Nothing appears to escape his watchful eye, ' 
and you can never surprise him with news, for 
he always appears to know all about every- 
thing. He never appears to make a mistake 
in the selection of men to perform any duties: 
be never shows anger or passion, except yon 
may see ihe whites of his eyes get yellow on 
provocation. Quiet and modest, the long, sure 
test of worth has got him the esteem and ad- 
miration of the officers of his brigade and di- 
vision. He is personally good-looking, and 
especially handsome on horse-back, for he is 
the most elegant rider in the division." 

The return of Ferrero placed Hartranft again 
in command of his regiment, although a 
Colonel junior to him had command of the 
first brigade of the division. The matter was 
bronght.to his notice buthe declined of course 
to complain of the injustice, since it would 
result to the disadvantage of a brother officer. 
Gen. Burnside urged upon him that be had long 
since earned his promotion, and offered to 

■ - him les-ve of absence to visit Washington, 

■ lie refused, while his services were 'need- 
; n the field. He was never the man to pre- 

-i;ut his own claims. 

! AGAIN TO THE FRONT. 

Early in June the Corps once more set out 
[to " travel on its muscle." Grant was closing 
in his lines stubbornly and resolutely around 
Vicksburg. The enemy were about to suc- 
cumb before the superhuman exertions of the 
great General, aud his lieutenant, the terrible 
Sherman. But a rebel army under Johnston 
was hurrying forward to raise the siege, and 
more boys in blue were needed in Mississippi. 

The Corps left Kentucky by I'ailroad to 
Cairo, and thence passed down the Mississippi 
on steamers to Sherman's Landing opposite 
Vicksburg, where they landed on the Hth of 
June. In a day or two they went up the Ya- 
zoo river, to Haines' Bluff, and thence across 
.country, operating principally in the rear of 
Vicksburg to cover Grant's siege. The cam- 
paign was brief but very-severe. The marches 
were frightful. In the language of an officerv' 



8 



"no pen can describe the sufferings of thejnoir, in Tennessee, where they were just about 
men." The heat was intense. Immense being attacked by Longstreet. His passage 
clouds of dust rose everywhere at the least through Kentucky and over the mountains, 
movement, choking the mouth and nostrils.lwhich had to be made on horse-back by the 



road used for transporting supplies, was just 
made in time, for a day after the operations 
)f the rebel cavalry and guerrillas cut off 
communication entirely till after Longstreet 
abandoned his siege of Knoxville. 

The arrival of their beloved Colonel at Le- 
noir was hailed with delight by his men, for 
they desired his cool head and undaunted 
heart to lead them in battle. Ho at once, in 
the absence of senior officers, took command 
of the Division and led it during the whole of 
the battles constituting 

THE DEFENCE OF KNOXVILLE. 

Burnside knew the staunch qualities of the 
lieuteniint he had to support him in keeping 
Longstreet at bay. The skirmish at Lenoir 
commenced the campaign. Hartranft was 
ordered to move forward to Campbell's Sta- 
tion, and bold the roads which cross there. 
He marched promptly in the night with his 
division, and some artillery and cavalry, and 
occupied the important strategic point. Other 
troops were hurried up to his support, and at 
9 o'clock in the morning the action com- 
menced, continuing for two hours, at the end 
of Avhich time the discomfitted rebels retired 
with terrible loss. Hartranft during the en- 
gagement had four brigades under him. It 



and making respiration almost impossible- 

The water was very scarce, and almost un- 

drinkable when found. At the close of a day's 

march, or at the occasional pauses to rest, 

the men would throw themselves upon the 

ground and hide their heads among the sparse 

ehrubbery scarcely knee high, seeking shade, 

and relief from the heat. 

Amid these severities. Col. Hartranft was 

prostrated by a sun-stroke, as were many of 

the men. But he remained on duty, having 

for about a week the command of the brigade. 

On the Fourth of July, after the glorious con- 

Bumraation of Grant's operations, the surren- 
der of Pemberton and his garrison, the move- 
ment against Johnston at Jackson commenced. 

and on the 10th skirmishing began between 

the forces. Hartranft had been riding in an 

ambulance on the march, but when the first 

shots of the action <vere fired, he mounted his 

borse and took command as usual, though 

really unfit to be anywhere but in the hospital 

His men remarked, as he exposed himself to 

the shot and shell that were flying, that he 

seemed determined to lose " the little life there 

was left in him." 

Jackson was captured after eight days" 

operations, and the campaign in Mississippi 

was at an end. In a special order. General r^^"; ^ ^^^^^^e fought against terrible odds, for 

Grant highly complimented the courage andL^^ ^nion army numbered only six thousand 

discipline of the Eastern troops, and thankerlLcn, while Longstreet led at least three times 

them for the valuable services they had ren-U^, j^^^y Hartranft's own division con- 
dered him. He ordered that the names oflj^j^^^j ^j^,y ^^o^,t ,^^1^^ jj^^j^ed men. 
♦<Vicksburg" and "Jackson" should be placedj j^^^^^-^^^-^ 0^,^ .g-^.t w..s to hold out, and 
upon the regimental colors. ^^^^ Knoxville till reinforcements could reach 

TO KENTUCKY AGAIN. ^,i,n. In the night after the battle, therefore. 

The Vicksburg campaign was closed, and, he withd.-ew towards that city, and immedi- 
the presence of men was more severely need- utely f'ci nhniit fortifying it. In this work 
ed again in Kentucky. On the 9th of August ILirtranft was a most valuable assistant. His 
the Corps loft Vicksburg for Cairo and came engineering knowledge came into full use. 
>1 by railroad from that city to Cincinnati. At Under his direction a large dam was tlirown 
•that city Colonel Hartranft, still very much'across a stream called " First Creek," which 
prostrated by his attack in ^Mississippi, re-, falls into the Ilolston river, near the city, 
oeived a sick leave and returned to his homejThe water in the stream was raised to a con- 
st Norristown, to recover his shattered oner- siderable height, a thousand yards along the 
giea. front of our army, and for at least one half 

Having partially recovered he left again of that distance it became too deep and wide 

■ for the field of action in October, and on thefto bo crossed by the enemy without bridges. 

i ICtb of November, found his Regiment at Lo-jit was therefore a most valuabla means of de 



(il 



9 



fefiee, and assisted not a little in repelling thelroadB. Here, on the 4th of January, thej 



assaults of the stubborn Longstreet. 

The siege continued for three weeks. Mean 
while the suffering of our men for provisions 
was very great. Supplies could not be brought 
through from Crab Orchard, as they had 
been, for the communication was cut off by 
the rebels. There was no resource but to de- 
pend on the country, and this was a rery 
poor reliance, for the people themselves had 
an insuflScient allowance of the barest neces- 
saries of life. At length, however, about the 
7th of December, Longstreet gave up the siege 
and withdrew. Entirely baffled by Burnside, 
and fearful of being cut off by Sherman, who 
was marching from Chattanooga, he retreated 
in haste, abandoning the coveted prize of 
Knoxville, and the control of its great line 
8f railroad. 

During all the hardships of the siege none 
had less idea of retreat or surrender than 
Hartranft. To some one who inquired our 
ability to hold out, he answered with his usual 
modest confidence, "Forty thousand men, sir, 
cannot take Knoxville." We have before us, 
as we write this, a letter from the veteran 
officer of a Massachusetts regiment, who for- 
gets his State pride, and writes thus appre- 
ciatively of our Pennsylvania soldier ; — 

*' Here, in Tennessee, at the beautiful battle 
of Campbell's Station, where we were twice 
outflauked by the enemy, Col. Hartranft was 
the man who, by cba.ging with his Division, 
relieved our peril. This was done nobly, 
promptly, quietly, and in order, thus saving 
the army from confusion and disaster. 

At Knoxville, his majiagement and actions 
seemed to me equal if not superior to those of 
any othtr officer, and this is saying much, 
where all did so well. I regard Colonel Hart- 
ranft as entirely competent to command a 
Brigade, a Division, or even a Corps " 

RE-ENLISTMENT OF HIS REGIMENT. 

The country never needed men worse than 
she did in the great campaigns of 1864, and 
in the winter previous the Crovernment, with 
admirable judgment and forethought, began to 
make preparations for the contingency by 
offering inducements to the three years' regi- 
ments, whose time would expire in the sum- 
mer and fall, to re-enlist for another term. 

Many regiments did so, and among them 
■Colonel Hartranft's Fifty-first P. V., which 
since the siege of Knoxville liad been station 



were mustered, and all but a few men agreed 
to re-enlist. The "veterans" received their 
usual furlough, and the Regiment was ordered 
home to recruit. 

At Norristown, on the 9th of February, at 
the formal reception given to Colonel Hart- 
ranft and those companies belonging to Mont- 
gomery county, they were welcomed by B. E. 
Chain, Esq., an old Democrat like Colonel 
Hartranft, but the determined friend of hia 
country, instead of partizan politics. One 
paragraph from Mr. Chain's remarks may 
properly be quoted here : — 

" It is to you. Colonel, the regiment owes 
the character it bears. Your discipline in the 
camp, your foresight on the march, your cool" 
ness, bravery and judgment on the battle- 
field, have won their confidence and love, and 
made them heroes in the fight. They knew 
you never ordered when you did not lead. 
Your pledge has been more than redeemed. 
Your actions have spoken louder than words," 

PREPARING FOR THE NEW CAIVIPAIGN. 

The furlough having expired Col, Hart- 
ranft's regiment rendezvoused at Harrisburg, 
on the 10th of March, and remained at Camp 
Curtin,. under charge of Lieut. Col. Schall, 
till the 19th, when they were sent forward to 
Annapolis. Here the soldiers of Burnside's 
command were once more assembling to em- 
bark, as was supposed on some new expedi- 
tion to the South. 

The Camp here was very extensive, for 
many of the regiments had been recruited to 
their maximum strength, and there were a num- 
ber of new organizations, among them the 
colored troops. Col. Hartranft was made act- 
ing Brigadier General and placed in command 
of the post. The remainder of March, and 
most of April, was spent in organizing, drill- 
ing and disciplining the new men, embracing 
not only the new organizat ions, but the recruits 
in the old ones. 

Soon after. Col. Hartranft received his long 
merited promotion, as Brigadier of volun- 
teers. He fairly earned it at Antietam, and 
nothing but his modest determination not to 
urge his own claims had prevented him from 
receiving it long before. He was placed in 
command of the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 9th 
Army Corps, consisting of six regiments: — the 
2d and 8th Michigan and 51st Penna,, all 



«d in the vicinity, principally at Blaia's cvos»)v«t.eran regiments, and the lith Michigan, 



i'^. 



10 



lOOtli N. y., and 27th Michigan. His com-j On the 7th the men were principally occu- 
ir:'.:'ion as Brigadier dated from May 12th 'pied in intrenching, though there was consid- 
1''C4. n ■■ ■'•■ 1 ■ • erable skirmishing with the enemy, and on the 

:;rL^:S"T% ''i3R')ii>?LTl Wi^ TRE^AspJir-IStli thoy again moved to the left in pursuance 
THE "WILDERNESS.'' ■''""'^.'[d^ Grant's grand plan of flanking, and march- 
'f:; .r operations of Burnside were not to be i^S through Chancellorsville, encamped two 
c:M-.l,doninanynew "Expedition." Grant's ^"^63 beyond. The array was beyond "the 
plans assigned him an entirely different ficld|'^^'i'«3^''-°ess," and the first epoch of the fearfu 
of e.ryice. Late in April the arrangements, ^'^^'^gg^e was over, 
of Ihe Lieut. -General were all made, and hci SPOTTSYLVANIA. 

stood ready to engage in that terrible grapplej On the 9lh, Hartranft was again on the 
with the armies of the Rebellion, which will|nioye ^[i\^ jjig Corps. Near the Ny river the 
be celebrated in History for all time to come,|iiQe ^f battle was once more formed in the rear 
as the most fearful fighting ever done in anyjof Christ's brigade, which was at once thrown 
age. On the 23d of April, Burnside's forcesjacross the stream, and engaged the enemy, 
moved from Annapolis, marching across coun-,xhe rebels came down upon him in front and 
try to Washington, and Alexandria, wberejbegan to push his flanks severely, when Hart- 
they encamped on the 2.5th. They became a, ranft threw two of his regiments over the 
portion of Grant's army, actually in the field, 'stream, and the enemy was handsomely re- 
about the 29th. ipulsed with severe loss. Sickened by his se-' 

With Hartranft, active operations began on'yei.e reception he made no further attacks on 
the 4th of May, when he broke camp nearjour lines during the day. 

Warrentou Junction, and took up the line of Qn the 10th and 11th there was an advance 
march, crossing the Rappahannock and en-Lnd retrograde movement across the Ny, but 
camping a mile beyond. The following day Ln the 12th at daylight our troops again ad- 
he crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, Lanced beyond the river, and here ensued a 
and hurried forward with the rest of Burn- jgsperate engagement in the course of the 
side's forces to the support of the troops who day. The enemy opened on our troops with 
had been all day engaged at the Wilderness, artillery, but two guns of Captain Twitchell's 
The next day— Friday, May Gth— a move- battery soon silenced them. Pushing reso- 
ment was made toward the left, and Hart- lutely forward the enemy continually gave way 
ranft's brigade was placed on the left of the'and Hartranft won two small hills, where they 
5th Corps. Farther still to the left was the2d^had attempted to stand. At 2 o'clock orders 
Corps. Here the enemy were soon encounter- were given to attack, and our troops moved' 
ed, and Burnside ordered Hartranft to carry gallantly forward. The position, like nearly 
the enemy's works in his front. They werejthe whole battle field, was wooded and over 
very strong, and the rebels were in force, grown with thickets. The movements of the 
The advance was made at 10 o'clock, in finejenemy could not be clearly perceived, and he 
style, and the works were carried and held for fe]l in greatly Euperior numbers on Hartranft's 
a moment, but a sudden panic seized the lefi^eft. There ensued a most desperate hand-to- 
of the line, and the whole brigade fell back, hand fight. Prisoners were taken by both 
A large number of prisoners were captured on sides. The General in his official report says 
both sides. Col. Graves, of the 8th Michigan of it: — 

Volunteers, was killed in the enemy's works. « xhe enemy's cannon poured their shot 
The attempt, however, was not relinquished ; through my lines from the front, and his in- 
the line was again formed, and at half-past'^'i°t'"y hcing in superior force on my left, my 
four in the afternoon Hartranft's men carried'^'^^ was compelled to retire. The enemy 
.. , , , ., , jwere wiihin a few feet of Wright's two guns , 

the work.^, though with severe loss, more men.Qn tbe left but the 2d Mich., under the com- 
hcing killed and wounded than in the charge niand of the gallant Capt. Farran, repulsed; 
in the morning. They gallantly held their po-]^'>« enemy most^ hands^omcly. ^ After all the 
sit: 
oihc 
tion. jof the piece he had so hastily manmMi. 



in the morning. They gallantly held their po-^"« enemy mosi nanusomciy. After all the, 
sit ion, however, and at dusk were relieved by^""""" were killed and wounded, he manned 
' :' iihe guns from his regiment, but he was killed 

other troops, while they moved to a new posi->. soon after while bravely directing the fire 
tion. jof the piece he had so hastily manm-d." Six 



£111 



gun3 further to the right and rear, under the 
personal' direction of the General Command- 
ing the Division, opened fire upon the enemy, 
and did good execution in driving him back. 

•This wns a repulse to my line, but the enemy 
fiiled equally in his object, with a slight ad- 
yantage of prisoners in his favor. My loss 

, in killed and vrounded was heavy. The 2d 
Brigade, under the command of Colonel Hum- 
phrey, moved upon the attack to my support. 
Lieut. Col. Sivitt 17lh Mich, was taken priso- 
ner, with the Colors of bis regiment, while ct- 
temptir.g to rally the same. Capt. Allebaugh, 
51st, P. v., seized the colors of his llegiment 
after two color bearers had been shot, with 
determination to rally his men. The enemy 
appeared in overwhelming numbers and he 
was forced to yield." 

From the 13th to the 18th the Brigade made 
no movement. On the 19th it moved to the 
extreme left of the army and took up a posi- 
tion immediately on the left of the 6th Corps. 
On the 21st the flank movement was again per- 
formed, and marching all night it crossed the 
Po river at 4 o'clock and encamped at 6, A. 
M., on4he 22d. The 23d found our troops at 
.the North Anna, where they remained till the 
27th and again moved off., The 1st of June 
found them near 

COLD HARBOR, 

..and on that and the 2d there was severe skir 
mishing with the enemy. On the following' 
day Hartranft withdrew toward the left and 
formed line near Bethesda Church and once 
more engaged the enemy. Agreeably to 
orders, he assaulted the enemy in his front 
and retook a line which had been lost by our 
army the preceding evening. Theenemy fled 
precipitately from their position and Hart- 
ranft's men occupied the rifle-pits.- In the 
movement Lieut. -Col. Schall, of the 51st P. V. 
was killed. ;., i ..j;,. ; 

The position gained ■fras within two hun- 
dred yards of the rebel main line, and was 
expcsid to an enfilading fire from their in 
fantry, which told severely upon our ranks. 
To procure cover, in default of better en- 
trenching tools, the men used their bayonets, 
tincups and plates to scoop up the soil into 
earthworks, and thus partially protected them- 
selves. 

ACROSS THE JAMES. 
The successive movements by the left flank' 
brought the brigade of Hartranft across the 
Chickahominy on the 14th of June, and on 
the 15th the James was also crossed. 



On the 17th and 18th his command engaged 
the enemy with severe loss, the contest, on the 
latter day, being at the Norfolk and Peters- 
burg Railroad. At both places General Hart- 
ranft exposed himself with his usual gallant- 
ry, and at the latter, while the balls flew 
thickly about him, one Cut through the skirts 
of his coat and another tore his coat, vest and 
shirt, slightly grazing the skin. His position, 
carried from the rebels, on^the' 18th was the 
nearest to the enemy's lines occupied by any 
portion of our army on that day, and consti- 
tuted a most important portion of our works 
for the siege of Petersburg. Immediately in 
the rear of it the celebrated "mine" was 
worked into the hill, under the enemy's 
works. 

THE MINE EXPLOSION. 

In the unfortunate action at Petersburg, on 
the 80th of July, after the explosion of the 
mine, Hartranft again took part. Early in 
the morning his brigade advanced to the 
"crater ' caused by the explosion, and pushed 
as far to the left as possible to occupy that 
portion of the enemy's works not blown up. 
Here two guns, partially covered with the ex- 
ploded dirt, were dug out by. Hartranft's 
orders and turned upon the enemy. But it 
was impossible to get any further forward and 
the enemy began to press severely upon our 
men, who were rapidly becomjng exhausted. 
Two different assaults upon our lines were re- 
pulsed; in the latter the assaulting column, 
about five hundred strong, was almost ani- 
hilated. 

But, strange enough as it seems, no sup- 
ports were sent forward to assist in holding 
the ground, and there came instead an order 
to retire. This was done at a terrible cost, 
for the enemy's fii-e swept our troops in fl.ank 
as they fell back. Four regimental officers of 
the 1st Brigade were seriously, and one mor- 
tivJly wounded, and Capt. Shorkley, of Hart- 
ranft's Staff, lost his right hand. Two order 
lies in attendance upon the GeneraLwere killed 

GRANT'S OPERATIONS BEFORE RICH- 
MOND. 

It will be impossible, within the limits of 
this sketch, to do full justi'i'e to the grand op- 
erations of General Grant in the siege of 
Petersburg, and tha several movements by 
1 which he extended his left across Lee's line 



12 



of coirniunications, the Weldon and Danville 
Railroads. To present a proper record of 
them, or even to-give the reader an intelligent 



Late in March, 1865, the nation was Vrait- 
ing patiently for the news of the surrender or 
capture of Richmond, ■when it was startled by 



idea of their full nature, would swell our de-|the report that Lee had assumed the offensive 



scription beyond the limits to which we must 
confine ourselves. 

During the movementa upon the Weldon 
Railroad, on the 19th, 20th and 21st of Au- 
gust, General Hartranfl commanded his bri- 
gade and did good service in the three days' 
fighting there. Major Belcher, of the 8th 



and had boldly attacked our lines. A few 
hours later, and the report was confirmed, but 
with the cheering and encouraging addition 
that our troops had most brilliantly repulsed 
the attack in one of the hardest engagements, 
for its duration, of the war ; that this magnifi- 
cent feat had been performed by a Division 



Michigan, was killed, and Major Hart, of the composed of new regiments only recently re 



Slst Pennsylvania, was three times wounded 
in the engagement. The brigade lost fifteen 
killed, seventy-nine wounded, and twenty- 
three missing. 

In the engagements near Poplar Springs 
Church, commencing on the 30th of September 
and ending on the 8th of the following month, 
Gen. Hartranft had command of the 2d Bri- 
gade, instead of the 1st, and participated. In 
the first day's fighting his little command was 
almost surrounded, the troops on the right 
having been forced to give way before su. 
perior numbers. The Brigade formed the ex. 
treme left of the army. Two regiments on the 
right came rushing toward his line in confu 
sion, but he cliecked them, restored order' 
and re-formed them near his command. The 
nature of the ground and dense growth of 
timber and sorghum prevented a view of thi 
operations of other troops. As a consequence 
the enemy had pushed back those on the right 
far in the rear of the position of Hartranffs 
brigade before he was informed of it. It was 
only by the greatest skill and resolution that 
he brought off his command in safety and re- 
joined our main body on the new line which 
had been formed. 

At Hatcher's Run, on the 27th and 28th of 
October, General Hartranft commanded the 
1st Brigade of the 1st Division, 9th Coi'ps, 
which contained several of the old regiments 
previously under him in the 3d Division. 

THE BATTLE OF FORT STEADMAN. 

Grant's gigantic combinations and resolute 
perseverance were beginning to efi"ect the de- 
sired result. Richmond tottered to its fall, 
and the campaigns in which we had so long 
fought for its possession were about drawing 
to a close. But before giving up entirely, Lee 
made one more desperate cflTort, like the enraged 
bound of a savago animal driven to madness 



cruited from Pennsylvania, but disciplined, 
trained, and led by a Pennsylvania General, 
now, for his skill and courage, named "The 
Hero of Fort Steadman." 

Gen. Hartranft, at this time, was in com- 
mand of the 3d Division of the 9th Corps. It 
was composed, as just stated, of Pennsylvania 
regiments, raised for one year, and just sent 
into the field. To organize and discipline 
them no better man could have been selected 
than Hartranft, and his choice for the position 
was most appropriate and fortunate. Of the 
character of this battle we shall present some 
dea by copying from a General Order issued 
by Gen. Parke, commanding the 9th Corps: — 

"At four A. M., on March 25Jh, the enemy 
having massed three divisions in front of Fort 
S.'eadman, in the lines of the Third Brigade, 
First Division, of this Corp.«, by a sudden rush 
broke the picket line, and after a gallant de- 
fence by the garrison of Fort Steadman, over- 
powered it and gained possession of the Fort 
Mud a portion of the par:ip>t on either side. 
He then assaulted Fort Haskell and Battery 
9, but was repulsed with much loss. He at- 
tempted to advance toward the Railroad, but 
was. speedily checked, and the First Brigade, 
Third Division, coming up, he was forced back 
to the fort. From thence he wa.s driven by a 
charge of the Third Division, and the Second 
and Tliird Brigades, First Division. wi;h the 
loss of many killed and wouiulcd, 1.049 pris- 
oners, including 71 commissioned oflicers, and 
nine stands of colors, and the entire line 
seized by him was reoccupied. 

"To Brig. -Gen. J. F. Hartranft, command- 
ing Third Division, who bad chjirtre of tiie as- 
sault, great credit is due; and his L'ivi.-.ion is 
specially congratulated on the distinguished 
success which their good conduct has met with 
in this, their first, engageuieut." 

The " charge" and " tbo assault," as it is 
termed by Gen. Parke, was tho grand exploit 
of the day, and that which will naturally most 
be dwelt upon, though the couriigw with which 
Hartranft rallied his troops and biulibornly 



13 



M 



held hfs position earlier in the day, was bo 
less of importance. By the first achievement 
disaster was averted, by the second a grand 
Tictory was obtained. 

.Gen. Hartranft, in his official report, thus 
describes bis assault upon the enemy, though 
he refers with less fullness than we could wish 
to its entire success: — 

?*It was now about 7.30 A. M. when I re- 
ceived an order from General Parke, through 
one of his staff, to retake the line. My plan 
of attack was as follows : Orders were sent 
out that an assault would be made by my 
whole division in 15 minutes, and that the 
signal for the assault would be the advance of 
the 211th P. V. from the hills in the rear to- 
ward Steadman. 

" Captain Hodgkins was directed to advance 
with the 2d Brigade under Colonel Mathews — 
Major Bertolette with the 200th and 211th Pa. 
Tols. on the right, and as soon as the 211th 
P. V. could be^^put into position it was ad- 
vanced toward ^Steadman under the direction 
of Captain Watts, A. D. C, in full view of the 
enemy. This was done for the pxirpose of at- 
tracting the attention and fire of the enemy, 
and cover the movements of the balance of 
the Division, which was to carry the works. 
This ruse was a complete success. The ene- 
my, seeing the advance of this regiment num- 
beriug about GOO muskets, in such handsome 
manner, commenced to waver, when the bal- 
ance of the Division charged with a will in 
the most gallant style, and in a moment 
Steadman, Batteries 11 and 12, and the entire 
line which had been lost, was recaptured, 
with a large number of prisoners, battle-flags 
and small arms. 

" After the troops had commenced moving 
to make this assault, I received orders not to 
make it until a Division of the 6lh Army 
Corps, -which was on its way to support me, 
had arrived. But I saw that the enemy had 
already commenced to waver, and that success 
was certain. I therefore allowed the lines to 
charge. Besides this it was doubtful whether 
I could have communicated with the regiments 
on the flanks in time to countermand the 
movement. 

' " From the reports of my subordinate com- 
manders as well as from my own obser ra- 
tions, at least fifteen hundred of the prisoners, 
and all the battle-flags capt\ired, were taken 
by and passed to the rear through the lines of 
my Division, but were afterward collected by 
other troops, wliile but one battle-flag was 
credited to my account. The officers and men 
were so eager to regain the lost ground, and 
Regimental comniailders so desirous to main- 
tain their several organizations, which had 
been somewhat broken after charging through 
the bomb-proofs and old works around the 
forts, that little or no attention was paid to 
•the trophies of this brilliant victory." 



At Fort Steadman, rlartranftwoft his Brevet 
of Major General, an honor well-deserved. 
A communication from Gen. Meade, command- 
ing the Army of the Potomac, to Gen. Parke, 
commanding the 9th Corps, was enclosed by 
the latter to Gen. Hartranft, rnd in sending 
it used the following compliinentary lan- 
guage :— 

"He [Gen. Parke] bids me [A. A. G.] say 
in connection therewith, that such prompt re- 
cognition of your services, on the 25th inst., 
by the President, the Lieutenant General, and 
the Major General commanding this Army, 
aflFords him the greatest pleasure, and he begs 
you will accept his hearty congratulations, on 
your well-deserved promotion." 

Gen, Meade's letter is as follows : — 

HeadQrs. Armt of the Potomac, 
March 27th, 1865. 

To Major General J. G. Parhe, Commanding Ninth 

A rmy Corps : 

General — The commanding General directs 
me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
of this date, recommending Brig. Gen. Hart- 
ranft U. S. Volunteers for the Brevet of Major 
General of Volunteers, for his conspicuous 
gallantry in recapturing Fort Steadman, du- 
ring the action of the 25th inst., as well aa 
for bis industry and efficiency in organizing 
and disciplining his division composed of new 
regiments. 

In reply, I am directed to inform you, that 
before the receipt of your letter, a recommen- 
dation of this same effect had been made by 
I he Commanding General to Lieut. General 
Grant, to which a response was received, that 
this nomination had been made to the Secre- 
tary of War, and a telegraphic answer return- 
ed that the appointment should be made. 
Since then the Commanding General is in- 
formed by telegraph that Brig. Gen. Hartranft 
is brevetfed Major General, and the appoint- 
ment has been forwarded by mail. Your re- 
commendation is, however, forwarded to com- 
plete the record. 

I am, General, very respectfully. 
Your Obd(. Servt., 

^Signed) GEO. D. RUGGLES, 

Asst. Adjt. Gen. 

THE FINAL ASSAULT. 

In the final grand assault on Petersburg, 
when the " Confederacy" of traitorj crum- 
bled away at last, like a rotten shell. General 
Hartranft bore once more a distinguished 
part. 

On the 2d of April, in command of his Di- 
vision, which had fought so well at Fort 
Steadman, asd assisted also by the 1st Brigade 
of the 1st Division, under Colonel Harriman, 
he assaulted the enemy's works in front of 



14i;r 



Fort Sedgwick, his column having formed on'burg, abng the line of the South Side Rail- 
the right of the Jerusalem plank road. At i road, as guard to the wagon train of the army. 
4.30 A. M., just at dawn the attack was made. Until Lee's surrender his men were employed 
On (he left was Gen. Potter's Division. TheJin guarding different parts of the line of rail- 



works in front were known as "Miller's 
Salient" and were very strong, protected by 
every device of engineering skill. They ex- 
tended' over a line of about five hundred 
yards, but all fell into our hands in Hart- 
ranft's impetuous charge. The pioneer part- 
ies cut and tore away the ahattcs, and chavaux 
de-frise, with great difficulty, but complete 
success. AM the guns in the works, three 



road, having moved as far as Nottoway Court 
House, where they arrived on the 8th of April. 
DETAILED AT WASHINGTON. 
Among the many gallant men who had 
done the country signal service during its 
hours of trial, only a few could be retained 
after the rebellion succumbed at Burkesville. 
Among those whom the Government desired 
to remain in the service was General Hart- 



battle flags, and a considerable number of^^^^^, He was specially detailed by Presi 



prisoners fell into our hands. 

" Three determined ch.irgos to retake the 
" works,'' says Ilartranft in his report, " were 
" made by the enemy during the day, one at 
" 11.15 A. M.j the second at 1.05 P. M., and 
^- the last at 3. In the last charge the left of 
" (he line held by my command was forced to 
-'retire fo? a short time, owing to the fact 
" that part of the works held by 2d Division 
■" were retaken by the enemy, giving a sweep- 
" ing flank fire on my left, but upon the aJ- 
" vance of fresh troops on the left, my men 
" regained confidence and the line was re- 
" established." 



dent Johnson to take charge of the arrange- 
ments for guarding the Military Commission 
which sat for the trial of the Assassins of the 
President, and to execute its mandates. 

In the performance of this unpleasant but 
important duty he succeeded, as ever, admira- 
bly. He entered upon the charge of the ar- 
rangements at the Arsenal, when the Com- 
mission commenced its sittings early in May, 
ind under his direction, as subordinate to 
General Hancock, the wretched malefactors, 
who had incurred the highest penalties of the 
law, received their merited punishment. All 
who had occasion to meet Gen. Ilartranft dur- 



Later in the day a brigade of the 6th CorpsK ^ j^j^ attendance on the Commission, testify 



under General Hamblin, was placed under 
Hartranft. During the night the position was 
strengthened, the chcvaux-de-frise taken from 
the rear being placed in front. At 3 o'clock 
next morning skirmishers were thrown out, 
but found no enemy. The rebels had fled. 
Grant's assault on Petersburg was successful, 
for that stubborn city was evacuated. Gen. 
Hartranft's command entered the suburbs a 
few minutes before five A. M. His skirmish- 
ers reached the city at 4.15, a short time 
befure. 

Some little question as to who is entitled to 
the Imnor of first entering Petersburg, need 
not be argued here. Hartranft says "I iim 
"satisfied that my skirmishers were the first 
" Union troops in the city, and Colonel McCal- 
*' mont's brigade [of Gen. H.'scommand] was 
"the first which entered the limits of the citj 
"in a body." 

CONCLUSION OF THE CAMPAIGN. 

General Hartranft and his command saw 
no more fif.iting during the campaign. On 
the 3d of .Ipril he marched through Peters- 



to the faithfulness, politeness, and vigilance 
of his conduct. Even the wretched Harold and 
.\tzeroth returned thanks in their la«t mo- 
ments to him for the uniform courte.sy and 
justice of his conduct toward them. 

GENERAL HARTRANT'S SERVICES. 

In his statement of his services in tlie army, 

rendered to tlie War Department according to 

rder, in July, General Hartranft gives the 

. ccord of his participation in the followine 

b ittles: — 

On the Staff of Col. Franklin at 1st Bull 
ilnn, commanded Regiment at Roanoke Is- 
::nd, Newborn, 2d Bull Run, Chantilly, South 
Mountain, Am oImhi, Fredericksburg, Vicks- 
biirg (not engag ■>; commanded Brigade at 
Jackson; couiiiiaided Division at Campbell 
Station, and Siege of Knoxville ; commanded 
Brigade at the Wilderness, Spotts^lvania, 
North Anna, Cold ILirbor, Petersburg, Wel- 
don Railroad, Poplar Spring Church, and 
Hatcher's Run, No. 1; commanded Division 
at Hatcher's Run, No. 2, (not engaged,) Fort 
Steadman, and Assault on Petersburg. This 



15 



embraced a period of service from April, 
1861, to April, 18G5, during which he received 
forty-five days' furlough and one sick leave, 
and except on these permits was never absent 
from the field. 

By a recent order of the War Department 
General Hartranft was assigned to duty under 
General Palmer, in Kentucky. 

NOMINATION FOR AUDITOR GENERAL. 

The Union State Convention of Pennsylva- 
nia, which met at Harrisburg on the 17th of 
September, was composed of the best men of 
the State, and had before it the names of nu- 
merous gentlemen in both civil and military 
life, for nomination to the positions of Auditor 
General and Surveyor General. The name of 
Hartranft had been mentioned in connection 
with the latter position, but he declined to ac- 
cept it. It then seemed to be the general de- 
sire of the Convention that he should ba the 
candidate for Auditor General, and having 
consented to become so, he was unanimously 
declared the choice of the Union party for 
that position, after one ballot, in which he bad 
a large plurality of votes. 
HARTRANFT SERENADED— A SPEECH. 
A few nights after his nomination a number 
of his fellow-citizens waited upon him at his re 
eidence, in Norristown, with a band of music 
An address was delivered on behalf of the 
party by Benjamin F. Hancock, Esq., father 
of Major General Winfield S. Hancock, and 
General Hartranft replied as follows: — 



My FdioiB Citizens: — r thank you nrost sfncerely 
for this co-mpliment to-night. Jt assures me that 
you endorse my past public life and thiitl hold your 
confidence .Tiid support in the public content soon 
to be inaugurated. I also thank ynu. Mr. Hancock, 
for the kind mention of my militarj- history. Of 
this I will not speak nor detain you but a moment. 

Asasoldierl feel it my duty to give my hurnble 
aid tothe great party which has duringthe rebellion 
so nobly supported the Government in the .struggle 
for its existence and national honor. It put forth 
its strong arm and assisted the- Oovernment in fill- 
ing our depleted ranks. If this- had not been done 
we would still be digging in front of Petersburg, or 
perhaps been compelled to accept a dishonorable 
peace. To do this in a righteoas cause would have 
been a disgrace to every .soldier. If the soldier is 
true to himself he must be- true to the Union 
party. His pension list, hi.s bounty for his early en- 
listment, his right of suffrage, his protection through 
life, all appeal to him 

I need not say that every effort should be mado 
now to protect and cnoourage- labor. You well un- 
derstand that it is the wealth of a nation. And, 
while this is so, also from patriotic eonsiderationa 
see that the returned soldier is honorably employ- 
ed. It is the highest favor that can be bestowed 
upon him or his country. He will then soon forget 
his camp life and become an industribas and pros- 
perous citizen. 

The military power of the rebellion is crushed, I 
may say forever, and the natron looms up amidst 
the rums more grand and powerful than it ever 
seemed before. But rcrtKmber the spirit of rebellion 
is still alive and must be most carefully guarded. 
Let it be shorn of all political power, for in that is 
concealed all its strength and danger. 

I hope soon to see the- hnmense armies of the 
North and South engaged in civil and peaceful pur- 
suits, all adding their energy to restore our happy, 
glorious country to its former wealth and prosper- 
ity. Allow me again to retura my thanks for your 
compliment. 



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